Get ready for the great IoT cull

Smart Lure IoT companies need to start thinking partnering up. So says a new report from Strategy Analytics who predicts smart home spending will double in the next five years from $76 billion global in 2016 to $158 billion by 2022. But those brands who like to be Lone Wolves? Forget it. In this future, brands have to build a complete eco-system—or join one. Their reasoning? That consumers may use an occasional app through their smartphone. But the strongest adoption of devices and apps will be from those those are linked together through a "...unified software platform managing all the devices in the home as a system," says Bill Ablondi, director in Strategy Analytics Intelligent Home Group and co-author of the study. You don't want to be the IoT company standing alone.

Apple Curves Another rumor about a curved screen for Apple's next iPhone is floating—along with a suggested sell price of $1,000. There are also 1,000 engineers (a nice round number) apparently working on augmented reality tech that could be folded into the upcoming iPhone as well says Business Insider. This will be the 10th anniversary for the famous smartphone, and expectations are high for Apple to release an iPhone that wows—not like the iPhone 7.

IoT Rockets Consumers aren't the only ones that IoT companies should lure to their brands. By 2019, 85 percent of companies will put IoT technology into play. So says a new study from Aruba, a Hewlett-Packard group, that talked with 3,100 so-called "IT and business decision makers" from 20 countries. But even with this high-speed adoption moving forward nearly the same number of people say they've already dealt with an IoT security breach. As more companies open the front door to this new technology, making sure the back door is locked is going to as key.

Microsoft's VR Microsoft's first VR headsets are set to get to developers shortly. But some had the opportunity to test drive a prototype. Made by Acer, consensus around the headset was mixed. Upload VR loved the ability to flip the glasses up, while PC World lamented about the motion blur. (So did Upload VR.) The device, like Vive and Rift, is tethered so there's no freedom here. But still, a new headset is bound to excite the early adopters.

AR Bible Everything you need and want to know about augmented reality—we have it. A full take-down of the devices, the specs and what you should know before AR takes over your life like, well, your smartphone.